Padre Pio had the gift of reading people s souls. But his insight
went beyond mere sins in need of confession; he had a remarkable
understanding of doubts and troubles as well. Stay tuned to hear the stories!
Welcome to our YouTube channel Following Padre Pio about the Capuchin friar, mystic,
and miracle worker whose intercession is still very powerful and active today. We publish
videos and shorts 5 days a week, so follow us to find out more about the life of this fascinating
saint. And you will be amazed at what Padre Pio can do for you, a family member, or a friend!
The stories we have today are sourced from the book "The 'Padre' Saint
Pio of Pietrelcina" written by Father Marcellino Iasenzaniro. According to Father Marcellino,
Padre Pio's spiritual sons had an unwavering belief in his extraordinary knowledge of the
state of their souls. He shares a fascinating testimony given by Father Federico Carozza,
who was a student at the "Seraphic College" in San Giovanni Rotondo between 1917 and 1920.
(By the way, in case you didn't know, the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo had a small
seminary called the "Seraphic College." And Padre Pio was entrusted with the important
role of being its director! That meant he was responsible for providing spiritual guidance to
the many young friars studying there.) Now, let's delve into Father Federico's
captivating testimony. He recounts, I did not witness any extraordinary events from
Padre Pio during my time of formation, but I can say that we, the students, were all
convinced that he could read our hearts. This shared belief resonated deeply with
all of them who had the privilege of living alongside Padre Pio. But It
wasn't just their personal experiences that solidified this conviction; Padre Pio's own
words served to strengthen it even further. Listen to this: One day, in the church square,
two women engaged in a passionate discussion on the subject. One of them fervently asserted,
'Padre knows everything,' while the other skeptically responded, 'But that's impossible!'
Now, here comes the truly astonishing part. Just a few days later, without having mentioned a word
of their lively conversation, the sceptical woman found herself in the confessional. To
her amazement, Padre Pio, without any prior knowledge, spoke these profound words:
'Through Jesus, I see and hear everything. I see everything you do and hear everything you say.'
(Wow! You can just imagine the shock this woman experienced when,
after a passionate debate about Padre Pio's extraordinary knowledge, she found herself in
the confessional, only to hear Padre Pio say words that pierced through her scepticism.)
Father Pasquale Cattaneo also provides us with a compelling testimony that highlights
Padre Pio's remarkable gift of soul-reading. One beautiful morning, Father Pasquale embarked
on a bus journey from Foggia to San Giovanni Rotondo. As the bus traversed Mount Gargano,
he set aside the concerns he had planned to discuss with Padre Pio and instead
turned his attention inward for an examination of conscience in preparation for a good confession.
(Now, that s a good use of travel time. Nowadays, we constantly fiddle with our
smartphones. Why not make an examination of conscience or say a few prayers instead.)
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Father Pasquale explored every corner of his soul,
acknowledging his faults and making heartfelt resolutions for amendment.
As the bus climbed the final hill, gradually revealing the town before his eyes,
Father Pasquale finished his examination of conscience and pondered: "This spiritual life
is sometimes like trying to climb a greasy pole!" (I can imagine many of us often feel that way.)
Upon reaching the convent, he entered the sacristy and informed the assisting
friar of his intention to confess to Padre Pio, and waited patiently for his turn.
When the moment arrived, he entered the confessional, greeted Padre Pio, and unburdened
his soul through an honest confession. Father Pasquale poured out his troubles,
receiving guidance and absolution in return. As he rose from the confessional, filled with
joy and relief, he turned for a final glance, only to be met with Padre Pio's warm smile. With
a playful glimmer in his eyes, Padre Pio posed a question that struck Father Pasquale at his core:
"So, is this spiritual life sometimes like trying to climb a greasy pole?"
The sheer astonishment of hearing Padre Pio reflect upon his earlier contemplation left
Father Pasquale speechless. Yet, this extraordinary encounter fortified his
belief that Padre Pio possessed special insights from the Holy Spirit, guiding and
enlightening souls on their spiritual journeys. What struck me as profound in this story is the
question Padre Pio posed to Father Pasquale after his confession. It seemed that Padre
Pio's intention went beyond merely demonstrating his insight into Father Pasquale's thoughts and
troubles. Rather, he aimed to illuminate a deeper truth about the spiritual life.
You see, Padre Pio's question hinted at the fact that the journey of faith is not similar
to attempting to climb a slippery pole, which is difficult and nearly impossible. We are fortunate
to have the sacrament of confession as a divine gift, offering us support in our struggles.
Consider this: we don't have to face the challenges of our spiritual ascent alone.
In His wisdom, God has bestowed upon us the gift of Jesus, who serves as an elevator,
so to speak, lifting us toward the Father. And just as a loving mother supports and
guides her children, we can find solace in the knowledge that Mary, Our Blessed Mother,
is there to intercede for us and help us stay on the right path when we slip back into sin.
Together, Jesus and Mary provide us the loving assistance we need on our journey of faith.
Therefore, my dear friends, let us never underestimate the significance of confession
in our spiritual journey, recognizing it as an opportunity to be lifted closer to holiness.
Thank you for listening, and stay tuned for the next video on the life of Padre Pio.
Dear friends, our ardent goal and desire with this YouTube apostolate is to inspire people,
so they do not give up hope and faith in God in these certainly very trying times.
This is our ardent goal and desire,
but to accomplish this for the long term, this Following Padre Pio Project
needs to be financially self-sustaining. We also aim for a bigger and better apostolate.
Our Protected Child of Padre Pio Program helps us to fulfill both of these important goals
for the salvation of souls, souls for whom Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross.
We have regular Masses celebrated for those who join. These Masses will be celebrated
especially for your intentions, as well as for any intentions Padre Pio may have.
By joining, you'll also be a part of a network of Padre Pio devotees, all praying for each other.
Additionally, you'll receive one or more beautiful gifts as a token of our gratitude: a personalized
A4 certificate of appreciation confirming your inclusion in our monthly or weekly Padre Pio
Masses; an A5 full color printed photo; to me, it's certainly one of the more beautiful photos
of Padre Pio, his goodness and charisma really seem to shine through, it's an A5 size and ready
to frame; a little prayer booklet of Padre Pio's favorite prayers, printed specially for you;
and depending on your level of support, we will send you this beautiful statue of Padre Pio.
Sacred Scripture says,
"Those who instruct many to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity."
By becoming a Protected Child of Padre Pio, you will be helping souls
in need. Padre Pio promised he would wait for his spiritual children at the gates of heaven.
Find out more by clicking the link in the description below.